How many programs does it take to change a youth group? That question has bothered youth workers for decades, and the cracks in its logic are beginning to show. In place of the contrived, artificial mechanisms employed so widely in modern youth outreach and discipleship, Mike King proposes a ministry centered in the presence of God. Young people encounter Christ not in the flash and pop of arena ministry, but in the sacred shadow of his presence. They learn what it is to love and follow Christ by observing others loving and following Christ--letting Christ shape their worldviews, their habits, their virtues. gives shape to such ministry through the classic disciplines and potent symbols and practices that have sustained the church over the centuries. The sound and fury that has characterized youth ministry for so long has left too many youth workers tired and too many young people disillusioned. Come explore the deeper terrain; your students are sure to follow.
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Wow. Talk about stirring the pot! Mike King gets way out on some beautiful and truthful thin ice, naming many of the closely held wrong assumptions and faulty practices of modern youth ministry. Then he crosses to the other side of this thin ice, and suggests a path forward. Congrats to Mike, and to anyone willing to thoughtfully consider the ideas in this book!" (Mark Oestreicher, president, Youth Specialties)
"Mike King has started a conversation that's long overdue and frequently ignored in youth ministry circles. In this thoughtful book he tells his own story with humble vulnerability, exposes the sacred cows we've let graze for far too long on the youth ministry landscape, and helps us see that ministry isn't about facilitating and teaching outward behavorial conformity. I'm sure this book will make many uncomfortable because of its subject and recommendations. Pick it up. Don't put it down. Prayerfully wrestle with Mike and his message. Keep reading. This book just might take you out of your comfort zone, but that's right where many of us need to be led in order to be able to carefully and faithfully lead young people into the life-changing presence of God." (Walt Mueller, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and author of Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture)
"Make no mistake: Presence-Centered Youth Ministry is about God's presence, not ours--which right away puts Mike King's approach to youth ministry in a class of its own. King transcends 'liberal/conservative' stereotypes by putting ancient spiritual practices at the heart of our ministry with young people--practices that center us in the presence of God. If you're not won by the teenagers you meet in these pages, you'll be won by the glimpses of how King's own ministry helps youth 'practice the presence of God.' If Brother Lawrence had been a youth pastor, this book would have been his favorite resource." (Kenda Creasy Dean, parent, pastor, associate professor of youth, church and culture, Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church)
"With Presence-Centered Youth Ministry, Mike King has given us a road map to the tectonic shift underway in student ministry. At turns personal, challenging, testimonial and prophetic, this book will surely capture the hearts of many youth workers. Mike speaks from experience, yet with humility, and he is truly setting the course for a new day in youth ministry." (Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent-U.S. (www.emergentvillage.com), and editor of You Converted Me: The Confessions of St. Augustine)
"Mike King has started a conversation that's long overdue and frequently ignored in youth ministry circles. In this thoughtful book he tells his own story with humble vulnerability, exposes the sacred cows we've let graze for far too long on the youth ministry landscape, and helps us see that ministry isn't about facilitating and teaching outward behavorial conformity. I'm sure this book will make many uncomfortable because of its subject and recommendations. Pick it up. Don't put it down. Prayerfully wrestle with Mike and his message. Keep reading. This book just might take you out of your comfort zone, but that's right where many of us need to be led in order to be able to carefully and faithfully lead young people into the life-changing presence of God." (Walt Mueller, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and author of Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture)
"Make no mistake: Presence-Centered Youth Ministry is about God's presence, not ours--which right away puts Mike King's approach to youth ministry in a class of its own. King transcends 'liberal/conservative' stereotypes by putting ancient spiritual practices at the heart of our ministry with young people--practices that center us in the presence of God. If you're not won by the teenagers you meet in these pages, you'll be won by the glimpses of how King's own ministry helps youth 'practice the presence of God.' If Brother Lawrence had been a youth pastor, this book would have been his favorite resource." (Kenda Creasy Dean, parent, pastor, associate professor of youth, church and culture, Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church)
"With Presence-Centered Youth Ministry, Mike King has given us a road map to the tectonic shift underway in student ministry. At turns personal, challenging, testimonial and prophetic, this book will surely capture the hearts of many youth workers. Mike speaks from experience, yet with humility, and he is truly setting the course for a new day in youth ministry." (Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent-U.S. (www.emergentvillage.com), and editor of You Converted Me: The Confessions of St. Augustine)
From the Publisher
Features & Benefits
* Full of great ideas for large group and individual disciplines
* Written by a thirty-year veteran of youth ministry who's "been there" and "done all that"
* Creative, honest and pragmatic
* Encourages spiritual growth of both students and ministers
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Jason Deuman
Format:Paperback
Mike King is a long time youth worker who brings 30 years of experience to this book. He shares his stories and frustrations with the way youth ministry has been run for year. And as he grew in maturity he began to boil down youth ministry to what he felt was most important - - Jesus.
This book does a great job of getting the focus back on Jesus and making sure that first and foremost the youth leader is connected to Jesus heart. The students will follow as we become more and more in love with Jesus. King proposes many practices that would be viewed as controversial in many protestant communities but in truth many of these practices are timeless and can really strengthen your faith.
I think this book is valuable for youth leaders because King challenges us to tend to our hearts first. Also, King reminds us that the true success of any youth ministry is not how many students show up to your wednesday night program. Rather, the true measuring stick is how many of those students are connected to Jesus and the church 30 years down the road. To do this youth leaders need to think long term and we need to equip and encourage students to seek Jesus on their own. You can have the flash and bells and whistles in your program but you just better be sure that that's not all you have.
Great read I highly recommend it to any youth leader and to pastors in general.
jasondeuman.com
This book does a great job of getting the focus back on Jesus and making sure that first and foremost the youth leader is connected to Jesus heart. The students will follow as we become more and more in love with Jesus. King proposes many practices that would be viewed as controversial in many protestant communities but in truth many of these practices are timeless and can really strengthen your faith.
I think this book is valuable for youth leaders because King challenges us to tend to our hearts first. Also, King reminds us that the true success of any youth ministry is not how many students show up to your wednesday night program. Rather, the true measuring stick is how many of those students are connected to Jesus and the church 30 years down the road. To do this youth leaders need to think long term and we need to equip and encourage students to seek Jesus on their own. You can have the flash and bells and whistles in your program but you just better be sure that that's not all you have.
Great read I highly recommend it to any youth leader and to pastors in general.
jasondeuman.com
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Presence-centered Youth Ministry" tells an engaging story of the extremes and challenges of youth ministry over the years, and invites readers to approach teenagers in a more honest and effective way. Mike King's honesty in telling his own story is inspiring. He then moves on to specific practices for youth workers to engage in both individually and with their students. He reminds the reader of the meaning and depth of many Christian rituals and traditions that are often looked past, and I have found these practices effective both for myself and my students.
I gave this book to each of my committed volunteer youth workers and continually refer back to it for assistance in real youth ministry. King is a brilliant story teller and a great guide for youth workers.
I gave this book to each of my committed volunteer youth workers and continually refer back to it for assistance in real youth ministry. King is a brilliant story teller and a great guide for youth workers.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J. Shay
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mike does an excellent job of helping youth workers understand the need for presence-centered youth ministry as well as giving practical tips for beginning. As someone who has moved from typical program-centered youth ministry to presence-centered youth ministry in the last few years, I found this book to be helpful when talking with church leaders and encouraging when faced with struggles.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read it
I consider this book to be in the very tiny category of books called "Christian Youth Ministry Books Worth Reading."
Published on June 27, 2009 by Christian Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wow
Wow...just wow. This book will rock your world. A seismic shift for you and your youth ministry are possible if you implement some of the ideas in this book. Read more
Published on April 16, 2009 by David Knight
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Am with you always
Great book by a youth minister who's being doing this for awhile - his heart mirrored the youth he worked with - a hunger for Christ - transformation that is real and just as... Read more
Published on November 8, 2008 by grace is enough
5.0 out of 5 stars
King gets it right
Presently within YM, Presence-Centered Youth Ministry is a great book that will engage the young people of the America church. Read more
Published on January 23, 2008 by Jeremy Zach
5.0 out of 5 stars
Youth worker as a spiritual guide
As a pastor, rarely do I ever read a book twice. But I picked up King's book again the other day because the plight of evangelicalism's future fell upon me once again and I think... Read more
Published on June 18, 2007 by Kurt Rietema
5.0 out of 5 stars
Words to feelings
In an era where young people are leaving the church the second they leave most youth ministries, Mike's book does a masterful job of helping people move from program and event... Read more
Published on June 13, 2007 by Brian Hull
1.0 out of 5 stars
King believes mystics have the inside track on encountering God
Mike King is president of YouthFront, an organization creating an environment for youth to experience spiritual transformation. Read more
Published on May 7, 2007 by Gary E. Gilley
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 4
books:
- The Practice of The Presence of God by Brother Lawrence on page 61
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence on page 61
- The Signature of Jesus: The Call to a Life Marked by Holy Passion and Relentless Faith by Brennan Manning on page 51
- Deconstructing Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestantism in the Age of Billy Graham by D. G. Hart on page 27
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
